EXCLUSIVE: With his Runner Runner set to hit theaters this week, Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer) has signed to write and direct Bigger for Bee Holder Productions. The biopic tells the story of the Weider brothers — bodybuilding icon Joe Weider, the Canadian entrepreneur who created the Mr. Olympia competition and mentored budding champ Arnold Schwarzenegger, and brother Ben, who co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilding with Joe in 1946. Steve Lee Jones and his Bee Holder Productions have optioned the rights to the Weider brothers’ life story as well as rights to Brothers of Iron, the duo’s 2006 biographical tome chronicling their journey from dirt-poor sons of Jewish immigrants battling anti-Semitism to the owners of an international health and fitness empire. The Weider family business grew to include a supplements line, fitness magazines, and the Mr. Olympia, Ms. Olympia, and Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests. Bigger will chronicle the siblings’ rise thanks to Joe’s vision and Ben’s biz smarts. Joe Weider died in March at 93.Ben Weider died in 2008.

Jones will produce for Bee Holder Productions, which also is backing development. Eric Weider will executive produce. Bee Holder previously produced the Emmy-winning Dr. Jack Kevorkian HBO pic You Don’t Know Jack, while upcoming projects in development include DeLorean, about automaker John DeLorean, and Rube, about porn pioneer Reuben Sturman. Furman is repped by CAA, Atlas Entertainment, and Jackaway Tyerman. Shannon Hensley of AGMB Law negotiated the Weider deal on behalf of Bee Holder.

17 Comments

mr olympia • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

A little late in the game considering the movie Generation Iron is the biggest thing to happen to bodybuilding in over 30 years. Just saw it in a packed theater in vegas. A well done film. Outside of bodybuilding no one knows who Joe Weider is. Not a good risk to take if you ask me.

Finally, a scripted film about the origins of bodybuilding. Not like the campy documentaries following Mr.Olympia contestants worhshipping themselves. The Weider story is an incredible rags to riches story as everyone who has read the Weider book knows. Can’t wait for this one. I wonder who’s going to play Joe and Ben Weider?

Wait…so this doesn’t have anything to do with the people who made Generation Iron?? That makes no sense. And who the hell cares about The Weiders? Generation Iron is a success because it focuses on the bodybuilders.

Kim • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

Not sure you understand the storytelling business. Probably the wrong field for you.
As a very high level executive trust me when I tell you , change careers now. You will not understand this.

Teddy • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

No one cares Kim. Hollywood doesn’t care. Have you seen the slates that perform well in the box office? They are all tent pole films with a following. Rush is having a hard time appealing to US audiences. You think our audiences today will gravitate towards this?

Fitness Freak • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

There have been doc films about bodybuilders over the years. Never a scripted film with a mainstream director. I don’t think anyone has taken on the origin of fitness. The Weiders championed Arnold and evidently set up the IFBB which is the federation of bodybuilding all over the world. What a story!

If it weren’t for Joe Weider; this country would be bigger, fatter slobs than we are today. Talk about a built-in audience. Buff is the new black… Cool, unique project.

Meric Aydin • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

Great news to hear of a story with such an international dimension is in development.
Many years ago Weider Fitness launched a fitness center near my home in Turkey and my father brought me there and spoke of Ben Weider to me.
He told me the story of how the Weider brothers came from nothing and changed the world.
As a person from Turkey who just started in film industry the story is meaningful to me for that reason.
I believe this movie will bring many countries and people together.

Joe • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

Generation Iron is a doc, this film will be a bio story. They’re in different (Mr) Universes. :) eh!

jonny • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

Erik, have you seen ‘Generation Iron’? Or have even taken a look at the reviews or the box office lately? Pretty impressive numbers. Hats off to Jerome Gary who not only produced Generation Iron but produced the classic, ‘Pumping Iron’.

JamesT • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

Generation Iron is more than just a doc…

myname • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

I really hope they don’t shy away from the role steroids have played or the way the illegal use of those drugs corrupted the athletes, promoters, publishers, politicians, etc. A high-point in the ludicrous Schwarzeneggar governorship was when he vetoed legislation curbing the advertising of worthless “supplements” to high schoolers, typically accompanied by images of 100% juiced-up bodybuilders (no small number of whom would go on to face disease, death and prison for their unchecked dysmorphic compulsive disorders). The Weiders made their money as publishers and the pages of their magazines were filled with these ads. Standing up to them was out of the question for Arnold no matter how much harm was being done while they lined their pockets. And how the Weiders wielded their influence over the sport as the gate-keepers to these advertising dollars is just another dark/interesting facet that’s been rarely publicized. Any movie about them that omits this would be pretty ridiculous.

This movie looks like a good fit and a step in the positive direction for the Bodybuilding industry.

Jill • on Sep 30, 2013 6:00 pm

As a pioneer of women’s bodybuilding in Canada, a member of the IFBB, & a fitness professional still today; having personally known and worked for Ben Weider in Montreal, (as did my father), I feel that finally someone is going to tell this amazing story! So excited to see the end result! Hope it will be filmed here in Montreal.